A comparison of attitudes toward state-led conservation and community-based conservation in the village of Bigodi, Uganda

This article reports on research conducted in a rural Ugandan village. Residents of the village have experience with two types of conservation: one led by the state with minimal local involvement, and another led by community members with abundant local participation. The purpose of the research was to compare residents' attitudes toward the community-based approach to conservation with the state-led approach, and to explain any differences in attitude that might exist. The results are based on in-depth interviews conducted with 50 residents who have all been living in the village since both conservation areas were established. Findings show that the community-based approach has generated positive attitudes toward conservation while the state-led approach has not. The difference in attitudes is explained by specific beliefs that residents hold regarding each conservation approach. Possible implications for conservation behavior are discussed.